Twenty-one cycling teams from 19 countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand and Spain arrived in Lombok to participate in the Tour De Lombok (TDLM) 2017, which was held from April 13 to 16.

TDLM 2017 is classified in the “2.2” category by the Union Cyclists International (UCI) after the Philippines. Divided into four legs totaling in 485.6 kilometers, the route passed through Lombok’s main cultural and tourist attractions.

The first leg of the race took riders from the governor's office in Mataram, the capital city of West Nusa Tenggara, to Kuta Beach in Central Lombok with a total distance of 126.3 kilometers. The second leg had the cyclists racing over 113.3 kilometers from Bangsal to Senaru in North Lombok. The third leg covered 112.1 kilometers from Kuta Beach to Sembalun in Central Lombok. The fourth and final leg was a 112-kilometer circuit race consisting of 10 laps in Mataram city.

The organizers coordinated with the local police to ensure safety, resulting in zero road closures throughout the event.he head of the National Sports Council's (KONI) West Nusa Tenggara branch, Andi Hadiyanto, said the TLDM 2017 was not the only sports-tourism event held in Lombok this year. According to him, this kind of activity is not only aimed at promoting the captivating beauty of Lombok but also at encouraging sports participation by West Nusa Tenggara youth.

“A lot of cyclists were captivated by the beauty of Lombok and the friendliness of people that they encountered along the route of the race,” said Hadiyanto.

Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said international-scale sports tourism events could have a direct impact on and high media value for Lombok as well as Indonesia. He expressed optimism that Tour De Lombok would boost specific market interest in recreational sports. (asw)